Swindon’s streets, galleries, and public spaces are about to become the muse for local wordsmiths as Poetry Swindon unveils its 2025 writing competition.
In a town well known for its ever-growing arts scene, this year’s contest invites residents to turn visual art into poetry, prose, or memoir.
The competition, fittingly titled Words on Art, Swindon, encourages entrants to take inspiration from anything that falls under the banner of visual art. That could be one of Swindon’s many colourful murals, an eye-catching tattoo, a sculpture tucked away in a public square, or pieces featured in the Swindon Arts Fringe, which opens its doors with free entry from 16th June.
Aspiring writers have the choice of submitting a short poem (up to 20 lines), flash fiction, or a memoir piece (maximum of 150 words). The competition welcomes entries from both younger voices (under 15s) and adult writers (over 15s), with a £50 prize voucher up for grabs for the overall winner.
The winning pieces will be revealed at a live reading event on Saturday 28th June 2025 at 2pm, held at The Bakers Café in Emlyn Square — a fittingly cosy and creative corner of the town’s thriving arts community.
Speaking about the competition, organiser Sophie Boyce from Poetry Swindon said: “We want this to be joyful, local and full of heart. It’s about celebrating the art we see every day in our town and hearing how it moves the people who live here.”
But time is of the essence for those feeling inspired. The submission deadline is midnight on 23rd June 2025. Entrants must live or work within 15 miles of Swindon town centre, and entries should be submitted via email to sophie@poetryswindon.com.
Full competition details and rules can be found at www.poetryswindon.com.
